Football

Nichols Defense Stops Late Drive, Defeats MIT, 31-19

Sep 26, 2009

By Nichols College Sports Information

DUDLEY, Mass. – An interception and its
ensuing run back with 1:21 remaining in the game secured Nichols
College’s 31-19 victory over MIT in a New England Football
Conference (NEFC) Boyd Division game on Saturday. The Bison
improved to 2-2 on the year and 1-0 in division play while the
Engineers’ ledger lowered to 0-3 overall and 0-1 in Boyd
Division action.

MIT senior running back DeRon Brown led all rushers with 178 yards
on 27 carries to go along with a pair of touchdowns. Nichols’
offensive production was led by 167 rushing yards from senior
running back Robert Morris, who scored a touchdown on 29 carries.
Senior receiver Anthony Pillari totaled 127 receiving yards on just
nine catches, highlighted by a 60-yard reception in the second
quarter.

After Lawrence Scott sacked MIT starting quarterback Kyle Johnson
on third and goal at the Bison’s eight early in the first
quarter, Peter Gilliland’s 27-yard field goal attempt clanged
off the left upright.

Morris and Pillari then set up the Bison’s eight-play,
62-yard scoring drive, with Morris collecting his longest run of
the day, a 45-yarder, and Pillari connecting with sophomore
quarterback Sean Smith-Vaughn for an 18-yard pass to set up the
Bison at the eight-yard line. MIT drove Nichols back to the eight
before Dave Wyrick nailed a field goal, the Bison’s first
attempt of the season.

MIT answered right back as Brian Doyle returned the kickoff 13
yards to set up sophomore quarterback Sean Kelly on a 28-yard pass
play to Mike Fitzgerald. From the Nichols 43, Brown carried it the
rest of the way on the next play to score his first of the day. The
Bison’s Jonathon Merjuste blocked Gilliland’s kick, and
MIT held its only lead of the day, 6-3, with 37 seconds left in the
quarter.

Nichols broke open the game in the second quarter as it recorded a
trio of scores, including two from senior receiver Mike Seiger.
Smith-Vaughn found Seiger in the end zone on third and goal from
the MIT two yard line to cap a 10-play, 59-yard drive that spanned
just over five minutes at the start of the second quarter before
junior safety Brandon Wallace intercepted the ball at the Bison 29
to bring the offense back on the field after just three plays.

Seiger again was Smith-Vaughn’s final target, this time
snagging a 23-yard pass to finish off a nine-play, 69-yard drive
which gave Nichols a 17-6 lead after another Wyrick kick.

The Bison stalled the Engineers at the Nichols 35 as Bill Hassett
made the tackle on fourth and two before Smith-Vaughn connected
with Pillari for a 60-yard catch to push Nichols up to first and
goal at the MIT four yard line. Morris pushed his way through on
the next play and Wyrick’s kick was good for a 24-6 Bison
lead just 45 seconds later.

Brown escaped the Bison defense to sprint the ball 30 yards ahead
on the Engineers’ next possession, and Kelly connected with
Fitzgerald for a 37 yard pass to bring MIT to the one yard line
with 30 seconds on the clock. Brown dove over the top of the pile
for his second score of the day with 19 seconds left in the half to
narrow the gap to 24-13.

Wallace had another interception in the third quarter and looked to
set up another Nichols scoring drive, but the ensuing pass play
from Smith-Vaughn was picked off by Corey Garvey, who returned it
eight yards to midfield where the Engineers were forced to
punt.

A Morris fumble set up MIT’s final scoring drive midway
through the fourth quarter, after which Kelly again used Fitzgerald
as a target for a 32-yard completion, driving to the Nichols
two-yard line and then finding Nate Forbes for the score, a
three-yarder, with 6:30 left in the game. MIT went for two, but the
attempt failed, leaving the Engineers trailing, 24-19.

Wilbert White picked off Kelly on MIT’s final possession and
returned it from the Engineers’ 48 for the Bison’s
final score with 1:21 left to play. With Wyrick’s kick, the
Bison finished the game, 31-19, after holding MIT to the Nichols 44
on its final possession.

For the Engineers, Kelly completed 16 of 27 attempts for 183 yards
while Fitzgerald totaled 137 yards on seven catches. In addition to
kicking duties, Gilliland led the Engineers with nine tackles
(three solo) and 2.5 for a loss of five yards, while Will Gibson
recorded 12 (four solo), and 1.5 for a loss of five yards and a
sack.

Smith-Vaughn completed 16 of 27 passes for 192 yards, throwing two
touchdowns and an interception. Seiger’s two touchdown
receptions were accomplished on just three catches for 34 yards.
Wyrick was perfect in kicking situations, all four of his PAT
attempts and a field goal. Defensively, Hassett tied a career best
with 13 tackles (six solo) and 2.5 for a loss of five yards, while
Scott posted 12, (four solo), 1.5 for a loss of five yards and a
sack. The Bison defense combined for 95 tackles, six sacks and
three interceptions on the day.

Nichols travels to Endicott next Saturday for a noon Boyd Division
game. MIT hosts UMass-Dartmouth at 1 p.m. for a conference tilt.